This is an updated list of what I’m using in 2026. I’m only sharing what’s changed since last year’s list.

Applications

  • Chrome — Chrome was on my list last year, but I’m mentioning it again because I actually used Brave for most of 2025. I like Brave, and honestly I can’t even remember why I switched back to Chrome 🤷🏻.
  • ChatGPT — I hate that I’m listing AI tools, but if I’m going to be transparent, it has to be here. I use it a bit for code, but mostly for rewording messages or rubber-ducking ideas.
  • Claude Code — I wrote about my thoughts and reluctance to embrace AI for coding. My company pays for it, so I use it.
  • Endel — I’m neurodiverse and have been trying to be more intentional about using tools that help me stay focused. Endel is super cool and has a lot of genuinely helpful features.
  • Hyper — I was previously using iTerm2, but switched to Hyper mostly because it feels prettier. That’s probably a dumb reason since I could have customized iTerm2, but I installed Hyper on my new machine and never felt the need to switch back.
  • Retcon — My team is pretty opinionated about Git history, and rewriting history via the command line or VS Code started to feel tedious. Several coworkers use LazyGit, but I didn’t want another terminal-based tool. Retcon does exactly what it promises and lets me handle more advanced Git workflows without having to be a Git super-nerd.
  • Notion — I was using Bear for notes, but didn’t feel like I was getting enough value out of paying for it. That’s not a knock against Bear—it’s a great product. Notion’s free plan works just fine for me. I also tried Obsidian this year and liked it, but parts of it felt quirky. It also seemed like a bigger time investment to make it feel as polished as Notion or Bear.
  • VS Code — I tried Zed for a bit, and there are things I really like about it. That said, I ran into a few weird and buggy behaviors that I just couldn’t get past.

Equipment

I got a 2025 M4 MacBook Pro when I started my new job this year. It’s more than powerful enough for anything I need to do.